Lefties reinforce absences of A-Rod, Posada

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The absence of Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada will probably become even more glaring the next three days.

Beginning with this afternoon's game with the Rays, the Yankees are scheduled to face left-handed starters in three straight games: Scott Kazmir today, followed by Johan Santana and Oliver Perez of the Mets.

Since Rodriguez last played on April 28, the Yankees have had five games in which the opposing team started a left-hander. They faced Detroit's Kenny Rogers twice and Detroit's Nate Robertson, Seattle's Erik Bedard and Cleveland's Cliff Lee once each and went 1-4.

The Yankees are hitting .232 against lefties in the 14 games without Rodriguez available: 42-for-181 with 36 strikeouts and just three homers.

Out with a strained right quadriceps, A-Rod is scheduled to do some baserunning -- a key test -- today at Tropicana Field.

"I want to see it for my two eyeballs," manager Joe Girardi said. "I want to see him run at full speed."

If that goes well, Rodriguez could play in games Saturday and Sunday at extended spring training, fly to New York, work out Monday at Yankee Stadium and come off the disabled list Tuesday.

Posada is out at least the rest of this month with rotator-cuff tendinitis. He began throwing again Monday but yesterday only took batting practice.

Ian Kennedy returns to the rotation today and the team will have to clear a roster spot to make room for him.

"I have a good idea what I'm going to see (from Kennedy)," Girardi said. "We're going to see a guy have a good outing. We wouldn't have called him back if we didn't believe in him."

Kennedy was 0-2 with an 8.37 ERA before being sent down.

"It's a matter of trust is all it is," pitching coach Dave Eiland said, meaning Kennedy needs to trust his stuff and attack hitters.

Robinson Cano had his 10th career four-hit game last night, raising his average to .205. The only other active players with 10 or more four-hit games in their first 454 career games are Shannon Stewart, Juan Pierre, Jose Reyes, Nomar Garciaparra, Ichiro Suzuki, Alex Rodriguez, Todd Helton and Hank Blalock.

Mike Mussina has 109 wins as a Yankee, tied with Fritz Peterson and Spud Chandler for 15th place on the franchise list. ... Johnny Damon (0-for-4) is in a 2-for-18 slide that has dropped his average to .264.

Although Joba Chamberlain did not pitch a second inning Tuesday -- even though he had thrown just 15 pitches and the game was tied -- Girardi said Chamberlain "absolutely" can pitch multiple innings. "Joba can throw 35-40 pitches," Girardi said. ... Kazmir yesterday agreed to four-year, $28.5 million contract extension through 2011, with a team option for 2012.

Jeff Karstens, recovering from a spring-training groin injury, pitched five innings yesterday in extended spring training and threw his fastball 87-92 mph, normal for him. He is scheduled to pitch Monday for Class-A Tampa. ...The Yankees videotaped Rodriguez's batting-practice sessions yesterday at the team's minor-league complex for the farmhands to watch. ... Chad Moeller worked with first-base coach and catching instructor Tony Pena yesterday on throwing and blocking balls.